Educational appliance.



Nul 777,268. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. T. E. THGMPSON. EDUCATIONAL APPLIANUE.

` APILGATION FILED JAN. 9, 3,904A HO MODEL www@ No. 777,268. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. T. E. THOMPSON.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

. APPLIGAUON FILED JAN. 9. 1904. No MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 y @V-Q30. 2 7

2:5 C# f@ 1 2 3f g3g/@ZM y 7 whlen. CHER, 191ML.

mffmnd portion of Fg. 2a s@ mwmw blaming m 111mm@ 01? some 90 `Mula L minilfm' *u the?. childish mind M @um "wim a I mming :m ,n wm@ :Viptiv 0l tlm of this dnfamiphion is but also for teaching subtraction, multiplication, or division.)

vIf preferred, the set may include blocks of `Sveral descriptions-for instance, pictorial blocks blocks and numerical blocks. Fig. 2 illustrates such a Combination set, the box being supposed to contain two layers of blocks, onev block at the right-hand end of the upper layer being removed to expose the corresponding block of the bottom layer. In this case the top layermay be made up of the numerical and the bottom layer oi' the pictorial blocks. i

The appliance furnishes a puzzle which adds a feature of great interest to young pupils in their first schoolwork. The pupils become intent upon the puzzle of putting the sections l of the blocks in their proper relation toeach other and during the operation unavoidably gather some knowledge of the characters and expressions which appear upon the blocks.

It is `obvious that the invention may be embodied in a series of blocks apart from the supporting-base b or the confining-walls b. These parts, however, are convenient and valuable as a means for protecting and preserving the blocks, and the opposed walls b serve the further purpose of a guide to determine the properlength of the complete Ablocks when the sections a a are assembled, indicating the correctness of the solution of the puzzle by the fact that the completed block is an exact it between the two walls, whereas if incorrectly put together the two sections c ct' will collect-v ively form a block that is either too long or too short to fit the space between the walls 7) b.

'It will be seen that the series may yinclude any desired number of blocks and that feach block maybe Very cheaply and conveniently manufactured by sawing into two or more parts a strip of wood, the location of the cut relatively to the ends of the block being dii'- ferent in each block from all the other blocks. It is obvious that a set of blocks may contain Vtwo or more duplicate blocks the pictures of which have the same form in each block, but are diiferently designated. In Fig. 5 I show two blocks the sections a a of which are alike in form, as also are the sections a a. The designating-marks on one of the sections a differ from those on the other section d; butA the marks on both sections a have the saine significance or meaning, so that either section (t may' bev used interchangeably with either section a.

In Fig. 6 I show each block as composed on. three sections e, c', and tiene section of eachv block being designated by-a word, symbol, or character, while the other two sections are designated by different expressions or embodi-V Y ments of the same word, symbol. or character.

The sections a may be affixed to the box, if desired.

In Fig. 7 I show complemental designationsv on the bottom of the box corresponding to the complemental designations on the sections aa' and serving to guide the learner in placing the block-sections.

In Fig. 8 Ishow the box or holder provided with designating characters b2 which are complemental to the designating characters on the adjacent blocks. The 'characters b2 may be formed on a strip b3, affixed tothe bottom and one wall of the box. 1 V

In Fig. 9 I show a block the section a of which is designated by a question, while the l i section a is designatedfby an answer to the question. e

I claim- 1 A y 1. An educational appliance comprising a series of blocks of uniform length,each divided into complemental sections which are complementally designated, the relative proportions of the sections differing in each block from other blocks of the series, so that a block ofV standard'length can be formed only by the A assemblage of complementally-designated sections.

2. An educational appliance bomprising a series of blocks'of uniform length, each divided into two complementa] sections, the relative proportions of the sections differing in each block from other blocks of the series, so that only complemental sections cooperate in forming a block of standard length, one section of each block b earing a designation, while the complemental section bears a complemental designation.

3. An educational appliance comprising a holder having opposed parallel walls forming the sidesof a block-receiving space of uniform width, a series of blocks of uniform length, each formed to extend across said space and each divided into complementally-designated sections, the relative proportions of which differ in each block, so tliatla block of stand? ard length fitting the space between said walls can be formed only'by the assemblage of ,complementally-designated sections.

4. An educational appliance comprising a series of blocks of uniform length,each divided into complemental'se'ctions which are complementally designated, the line of division between complemntal'sections being continuous los in the direction of the length of the line, the f 5. 'An educational appliance comprising a series of blocks ofuniform length,each divided. into two complemental sections, the line of di vision between complemental sections being continuousin the direction of the length of the line, the relative proportions of the sections diiering in each block from other blocks of the series, so that only complemental sec- 13e tions eoperete in femninge bleek of Stendal-d length, one Section of each 4block hearing e designation, while the eoinplementel section bears e eolnplenlental designation.

Y (3. An educational appliance comprising e holder having opposed parallel 'vva-llslormng' the sides of e bleelvreeeiving speeeot unievm width, e series of blocks et? unifermlength adapted., whenproperly aeselnhled, te lit with# in seid space, each bleek beingu divided inte complemente] sections which are eernnlemen tally designated, the relative proportions el? the sections clifferingin eeeh bloeli: lfzem other blocks Of the series, e correct 'assemblage of the blocks being determined by the lengtd of '125 the sections, whereby a bleek of standard length litting the space between seid Wells een be formed only by the assemblage of complernentelly-desgnated sections.

'ln testinlenywliereof I have affixed my eig 20 nature in presence o two witnesses.

THOMAS E. THOMPSON,"

W'itnessee: n

C. F. BROWN, E. BATCHELDER. 

